Amusement device



July 6 1926. 1,591,566

G. A. SCHMIDT ET AL AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1Patented July 6, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. SCHMIDT AND WILLIAM SCHMIDT, .13., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed November 6, 1924. Serial No. 7 18026.

This invention relates to an amusement device and more particularly to aboat ride, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to produce a novel and improved amusementdevice in the nature of a boat ride; primarily intended for use bychildren, but capable of use by adults as well, by means of which thereis oltered a ride in a miniature boat on a prescribed miniature watercourse, wherein and whereby, apparent complete control of the boat isofiered to the occupant, as it driving a regular tull-size mot-orboat,-and this without danger to even the youngest child who may beinclined or induced to ride in'the boat.

The advantages of our invention will appear more clearly as we proceedwith our specification.

In the drawings Figure 1, is a top plan view of the water course,landing and boat.

Figure 2, is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the boatitself.

t Figure 3, is a still larger view of the motor switch and batteryconnections for operating the boat.

Figure 4, is a view representing a vertical section through the-watercourse adjacent the landing stage in a planeindicated by lines H ofFigure 1, illustrating abrake device used for arresting the boat when itreaches the landing stage. 7

Figure 5, is a View somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 2illustrating a modified form of the construction.

The improved boat ride includes in general a suitable water course andan associated landing stage for the admission and discharge of theriders and one or moremotor boats, depending upon the number to beserved and the length ofthe water course, together with suitable devicesat the landing stage to arrest the boats at the end of the ride and toagain release the boats to start the ride, and switches either manual orautomatic, but always beyond the control of those taking the ride, forcontrolling the operation of the motor, which actuates the propeller ofthe boat. j

The boat propeller is preferably driven by an electric motor but may bedriven by any suitable motor device. When an electric motor is used, itmay be operated either from an electric battery upon the boat or fromcurrent taken by an overhead trolley system or otherwise from anysuitable source of electric current supply.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings :10 indicates a landing stage, and 11 a miniature water course;12 indicates one of the boats to provide a ride on the course; itbeingunderstood, as aforesaid, that any number of boats may be used. Thewater course, 11, as shown, is in the form of the elongated,approximately elliptical shape, but may manifestly be of anyshapedesired. It should preferably, however, to reduce the number ofattendants required, begin and end at the same point.

The water course is defined by side walls in any usual or'suitablemanner. The said side walls are indicated in outline at 13 1 1, and arebuilt of any suitable material, as of wood I planking. The water course,itself, is made quite shallow. having only depth enough to accommodatethe draft of the type of boat used.

The side walls 1314:, adjacent the land ing or loading stage 10, arecontracted in width, the walls 13-.11 approaching each other more nearlyas indicated at 13-14 In the narrow part of the water way thus presenteda suitable braking device is provided for arresting the boatand stoppingits further travel in the water way when it reaches the landing orloading stage 10. In the modification, of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, said braking device consists of a flexible board 15,extending longitudinally of the water way and provided on its top sidewith a wear member 15 for engagement with the keel of a boat when theboat passes above it. -The flexible board 15 is mounted on wooden bars1616 extending transversely of the water way and se-' cured at theirends to the wooden walls B al? which define the sides of the water way.The board 15 is connected to the cross bars 16 by means of bolts andslots indicated at 16 in such .a manner that the board 15 may be flexedupwardly at its middle, the bolts and slots allowing the necessary playin the connection with the cross bars 16. Arranged below the board 15 isan operating arm 17 which is mounted to swing on a transverse rod 17This arm is formed at its upper end in the manner of a cam and isadapted for engagement with a transverse board '17" on-the bottom of theboard 15.

In Figure l, the parts are shown in their normal-position with the-board15 below the keel of a boat, but not engaged therewith, so that the boatmay have free passage. is the position of the parts when the boat isreleased for a trip.

The arm 17 is operated by suitable link and lever connectionsvindicatedat 17.-17,'the lever 17 being located in a convenient posi tion adjacentthe water way wall l l 'ready for operation by the attendant. When thelever 17 is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow X in Figure4:, thearm 17 will beoperated to bring its cam-like upper endv intoengagement with the board 17 on the under side of the board .15 so as toraise said board to bring the wear member 15 into position to engage thekeel of a boat for arresting its movement.

Except atthe narrower partof the course defined by the walls 13'1l, thewater way may be made of such width -as to accommodate two or more boatsabreast, so that the boats may pass each other.

The boat itselfmay be of anyfamiliar and convenient construction. Asshown, it Consists of the-hull 18 with-bow and forward deck 19,-' underwhiehis located a battery which supplies current to drive the motor. 21indicates the motor, 22' the propeller shaft, and 23the propelleritself. The rear end of the forward deck 19 is turned down at 24c. toprovide a dash through whichprojects the forward part of a steeringshaft25,.the other end of which is journalled at 26 in the stemof-the how. 27indicates a steering wheel at the rear end of the steering shaft 25 anda transversely disposed seat 28 is arranged directly back of the dash'21, the boat thus being set up in the manner of an automobileor'runabout.

The shaft 25 is connected by suitable cable 29 to operate the rudder 30.'31 indicates the battery which is connected by circuit wires-to thebrushes 32 -33 of th'e..n1otor. The battery may be of any familiar typeand is=of sufficient voltageand current to run a small motor,as forexample a quarter-horsepower motor, which will be sulficient to operatethe boat.

In the circuit connecting thebattery to the motor, are located, springcontrolled makeand-brake switches 34 of any familiar type, and arms 35projecting at each side through the hull :of the boat are arranged tooperate said switches. The arms 35 are designed to becontrolledautomatically or manually but always under the control ofthose in chargeof the ride, and is not to be actuated by those takingthe ride. Saidarms-35 are arranged insuch a manner that when the boat ap- 'proachesthe narrow part'of the course de- This fined by the walls 13"-14, theywill strike the side walls l3 14' and disengage the switches with theresult that the motor is stopped. Two arms and switch members are thusprovided, so that-there is'no-danger of stopping the motor in the widerpart of the course where only one arm may be caused to engage with aside wall of the boat and-it is necessary to operate both arms to stopthe motor. After the motor is stopped, the boat is arrested by the brakemechanism. operated by the lever 17, as heretofore described.

In order to give the person taking ;the ride a feeling of control overthe motor, a dummy, spring-controlled pedal 36 is pro vided in aposition in front of the seat 28, where it maybe easily engaged by theone steering the boat. Manifestly, the one riding in the boat will haveno control over the operation of the motor, but will have full controlof the steering of the boat after it leaves the loading platform, anduntil the boat again comes to the loading platform. His operation of thepedal 36, will make him feelas if he were controlling the speed of theboat and when several boats are in passage about the water course, oneloaded with small children for example, and the other with largerchildrentl1e difference in displacement of the two boats, even thoughthe propellers of both boats-are operated at the same speed, will permitthelighter boat to gain upon the heavier boat, which willadd to thedrivers feeling ofactually controlling the speed-of the boat.

Instead of operating the motor from a battery carried by the boat, itmay also be operated by a trolley system. This is illustrated in themodification shown in Figure 5 where like parts are indicated by thesame reference numeralsused heretofore.

In this case, however, a net work of wire 36*, such for example aslightchicken wire or the like of metal suitable for conducting anelectric current, is located above and following the water way. Said network is of substantially the width of the water way and is supported'bysuitable insulated uprights 37' arranged alon the banks of the waterway. A trolley 38"of familiar construction is provided at someconvenient part of the boat, preferably, at or'near the stern, as shownin the drawings. Said trolley has a contact member 39 as a ball'or othercontact member with a broad-wiping surface, which is adapted forengagement with the wire web conductor 36 The trolley carries conductorsina familiar manner which are connected'to the electric circuit to themotor in the same manneras heretofore described in connection with thebattery.

Manifestly, with this construction, the trolley will be engaged with theover head wire web conductor 36 inany position of the boat upon thewater way. The over head conductor 36 is connected to a suitable sourceof electric supply in any familiar manner (not shown).

While in describing our invention, we have referred to many details ofconstruction and of arrangement of parts, it will be understood that theinvention is in no Way limited thereto, except as pointed out in theappended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, awater course associated with said landing stage, said course beingdefined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said watercourse, a motorand means for operating the same in said motor boat, a steering devicefor the motor boat, including a hand control member, an arm for startingthe motor-operatingmeans, and means provided adjacent the landing stagefor braking the boat.

2. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, awater course arranged adjacent to said landing stage, said course beingdefined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said water course, amotor and means for operating the same in said motor boat, a steeringdevice for the motor boat including a hand control member, an arm forstarting the motor-operatingmeans, means provided in the water courseadjacent the landing stage to brake the boat, and an actuating devicefor said motoroperating-means control arm associated with and operatedin association with said braking means.

3. An amusement device comprising in combination, a landing stage, awater course arranged adjacent to said landing stage, said course beingdefined by side walls, a motor boat adapted to said water course, anelectric motor in said boat for driving the same, means for supplyingelectric current to said motor, a steering device for the boatincludinga hand control member, a switch device in saidelectric-current-supply-means, said switch device being constructed tobe operated at the landing stage, and means atthe landing stage forbraking the boat.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention, we afiix oursignatures this 18th day of October A. D. 1924.

GEORGE A. SCHMIDT. lVILLIAM SCHMIDT, JR.

